Charge 50ah agm battery with two small portable solar panels at same time?

[Cyklopz]

I have set up a battery box portable power system to use while camping. I have two smaller portable solar panels (folding type). I have simple little charge controllers with each panel. One panel is rated 27W and the other is 39W ( I know, they never reach rated power and conditions vary). They can both output 12v-18v, theoretically. I can hook up either one to the battery for charging with alligator clips to the terminals, can I hook up both panels to the battery at the same time safely? I would like to keep things simple and clean and not have to make any permanent changes to the equipment as this will be for occasional and temporary usage. Safety is primary of course. I believe the drain on the battery should be under 25% per day and probably less.

If the above is not safe/workable. Is there a dual input charge controller that would work with these types of portable panels that don't have bare wires (usb outputs and the 12/18v output)? Or any other good way to use both of these panels at once?

A new bigger single panel might be needed for the future but for now I'd like to try and use this equipment.

Thanks for your time and help.

Cy

[ewarnerusa]

Yes you can, although the two different charge controllers may confuse each other resulting in possibly wasting a little bit of charging amps. But at this small of wattage, I don't see any safety issues. Both will contribute, but it may not be as efficient as running both panels through a single charge controller. At this small of a system I don't think it is an issue worth chasing after, just hook them both up to your battery and let them run. Do both charge controllers have a float charging stage?

[nomadh]

I have a similar camping setup. I have a lightly used 12v scooter battery, a charge controller, and a 100 w panel. It charges up our whole 3 or so campsite setup. Usually 10 or 12 smartphones, 3 to 7 ipods, a port dvd or 2 and a few gameboys. Enough electronics to make sure everyone has no interaction with nature whatsoever
We are usually in the shade so the panel has to keep being moved and at best the sun can be pretty shaded but we can still get through the week. The charge controller shows the battery drained about 1 out of 3 lights by the end of 7 days whatever than means but it gets us through. I'm guessing we drain only 5-10% per day so with such a small set of panels your system may not be able to recharge enough at night. I dont recall my battery size but the math is do you generate enough solar energy during the day from your 2 panels to replace the amount used from the battery.

[Mike90250]

2 small panels are better than nothing. But you really need a charge controller that has settings for AGM batteries to prevent overcharging.